Aaron Morley

Here I am examining the scrapbook collection of records pertaining to many Martin Luther King Jr. Day events held at Valpo.  The scrapbook collection contains numerous photographs, newspaper articles, and programs for the events.  I have been carefully transferring the articles and documents from the collection into document protectors, in order to better preserve them in the University archives.  This work allows for the files to be reorganized into record boxes based upon subject matter for easier retrieval.  Furthermore, the documents can now be more easily scanned into digital format, to ensure their preservation even if the physical documents are damaged, lost, or destroyed.  The information I have gathered from the scrapbook collection will be used in my final research project.

I became interested in this project at first because I viewed it as an opportunity to gain valuable internship experience in an area with application to my field of study – History.  As I discovered the depth of the archival records, I was very much amazed at not only the opportunities for research that were present, but also how blessed the University is to have such a wonderful collection and such a dedicated staff who truly care about preserving the past.  I have learned a great deal about the University and also about methods of preservation and archival research that I believe will be invaluable to my future career, and also to my growth in professional skills and as an individual.